All-metal-door construction



-April 9, 1929. w. MARSHALL 1,703,443

ALL METAL DOOR CONSTRUCTION J Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 7%"F a. 1% INVENTOR.

71355647 2 AarsZzaZZ BY WW M4401- MAM-V.

M ATTORNEYX April 9, 1929- w. MARSHALL 1,708,448

ALL METAL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L fi J I N V EN TOR. 741282 zam Marsha 22 M ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MARSHALL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T BRIGGS MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ALL-METAL-DOOR CONSTRUCTION.

,Applicatien filed March 16, 1925.

This invention relates generally to doors for vehicle bodies and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the inner side of the door.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the outer side of the door.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the removable header.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a door that is preferably constructed entirely of metal and is designed for vehicle bodies of the closed type. As shown, this door is preferably provided with two. metal panels 2 and 3 respectively that are secured to suitable metal pillars or upright members 4 and cooperate therewith to form a rigid box-like construction. The outer panel '2 preferably extends the full length of the upright members and is preferably provided at its upper end with a suitable window opening 5, while the inner panel 3 preferably extends from the lower end of the upright members 4 to a point in line with the lower edge of the Window opening 5 and is preferably provided adjacent to its lowerend with a suitable opening 6 to permit access to the space between the panels 2 and 3 respectively. p

In order that the occupants of the vehicle will have the maximum vision, the upright members 4 are preferably relatively narrow and are provided at their inner edges with longitudinally extending channel-shaped portions 7 that project laterally therefrom and constitute runways for a vertically movable glass panel 8. Any suitable means (not shown) may be used to operate the glass panel 8.

To provide a rigid construction, the inner panel 3 is preferably provided at its top,

Serial No. 15,338.

bottom and side edges with suitable flanges 9, 10, and 11 respectively that preferably project inwardly and serve to stiffen the panel 3. As shown, the side flanges 11 are provided at their inner edges with lateral extensions 12 that are preferably welded to the inner flanges 13 of the channel runways 7 the lower flange 10 is provided at its inner edge with a depending extension 14; while the upper flange 9 terminates short of the glass panel 8 and is preferably covered by a suitable metal finish strip 15. In the process of construction, the lateral extensions 12 of the side flanges 11 are preferably welded to the inner flanges 13 of the channel runways, whereupon a channelshapcd cross member 16 is preferably welded at its opposite ends to the uprights 4 at the upper ends thereof. The outer panel 2 is then secured to the uprights 4t, inner panel 3 and cross member 16. This is accomplished by bending suitable marginal flanges 17 of the outer panel around suitable lateral flanges 18 at the outer edges of the upright members 4, and subsequently welding the return bent flanges 17 to the flanges 18. The lower marginal flange 19 of the outer panel 2 is bent upwardly around the depending extension 14 of the inner panel 3, while the upper marginal flange 20 of the outer panel is preferably welded to the upper flange 21 of the channel cross member 16.

In order that the door will have a neat appearance around the window opening 5, the outer panel 2 is preferably provided at the top, bottom and side edges of the opening 5 with inwardly extending flanges 22, 23 and 24 respectively. As shown, the upper flange 22 constitutes the window header finish strip and is preferably welded to the lower flange 25 of the channel cross member 16; the side flanges 24 are preferably welded to the inner face of the upright members 4 and are preferably provided with the lateral flanges 26 that are welded to the outer flanges 27 of the runways 7 while the lower flange 23 constitutes the window sill and is preferably return bent adjacent to the flange 9 of the inner panel 3. In order that a weather seal may be formed between the glass panel 8 and the flanges 9 and 23 respectively of the outer and inner panels, a resilient weather strip 28 is preferably secured to the inner face and flange 9 of the inner panel 3 and is engageable with the inner face of the glass panel 8, while a similar weather strip 29 is preferably secured to a depending extension 30 of the flange 23 and isengageable with the outer face of the glass panel 8.

As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the flanges 21 and 25 respectively of the channel cross member 16 preferably terminate at a point insubstantial alignment with the outer flanges 27 of the channel runways 7, thus, the glass panel 8 may be readily insert-ed into '.or removed from the runways 7 by merely sliding the panel past the channel cross member 16. Normally the upper. ends of the runways 7 are closed by a metal header 31 that preferably carries a channel- .shaped resilient strip' 32 for receiving the per edge of the glass panel 8. As shown, tli is header 32 is preferably channel-shaped in cross section and is provided at the outer and inner edges of the lower flange33 with a longitudinally, extending bead 34 and a .de-

pending extension 35 that cooperate to hold .the resilient strip 32. To attach the header 31 to the door, the depending extension 35 is hooked overan upstandingflange 36 at the inner edgeofthe flange 22, while the upperflange 37 of the header 31 is slipped betweenthe upper. flange 20 of the outer panel-and suitable lugs 38 projecting inwardly from the upper flange 21 of the cross 'member16 and is held in position by means of suitable screws 39.

Thus, from the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that the lass panel 8 -may. be readily inserted in or removed from the runways 7 by adjusting the removable header SL' Inasmuch as the runways 7 arre an integral part of the upright members 4, it will also be apparent that the runways 7 will be uniform so that the glass panel 8 will travelin a straight line. 'Moreover, the separate strips of garnish molding ordinarily employed forreceiving the glass panel at the sides of the window opening in the door have been dispensed with entirely. Furthermore the upright members 4: have small cross sections, hence the vision of the occupants ofthe vehicle is materially increased and a wider glass panel .8 may be employed. lvloreover the panels 2 and 3 respectively andxthe uprights 4 are connected together in such a way that the door will be effectively prevented from weaving and twisting elm-otherwise weakening while in a se. it will also be noted that the outer panel 2 is secured directly to the inner panel 3 ,at the lower endot the door, thus a strong ,jointisprovided and the cross bar usually providednat this point has been dispensed with entirely; Inasmuch as a light gauge metal is used for the outer panel 2, the metal may be rounded at the corners as shown at ,40 toprovidea neat and attractive appearance.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages otthe invention may be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood thatv I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described andjthat such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope. of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. in a. door, a pair of spaced upright members havin longitudinally extending runways for a glass panel, a metallic panel secured to said upright members having an inwardly extending flange at its upper edge terminating in an upstanding flange, and a removable header closing the upper ends of said runways and having a depending flange hooked over the upstanding flange and resting on saidv inwardly extending flange.

2. In a door, a pair of spaced upright members having lateral fianges, and longitudinally extending runways for a movable glass panel, a metal panelsecured to the lateral flanges of said upright members and having an inwardly extending flange at its upper edge .terminatingin an upstanding flange, a. header closing the upper ends of said runways and having a depending flange engaging the upstanding flange and resting on said inwardly extending flange, and means detachably securing the header to the metal panel. i r

3. In a door, a pair of upright members having longitudinally extending runways, a glass panel movable insaid runways, a metal panel secured to said upright members, and

a header comprising a. channel-shapedmember secured to said panel above said run ways, one wall of said member having a longitudinally extending bead and a depending extension forholding a channel shaped strip in position to receive an edge of the glass panel.

l. In a. door, a pair of uprightmembers having longitudinally extending runways tor a glass panel, a cross, member terminally secured to said upright members, a removable header secured to said cross member and normally closing the upper ends of the runways, and a panel secured to said upright members and having a window opening therein at itsupper end, said panel also having a lateralflange at one edge of the opening supporting the header. 7

5. A doorhaving an outer panel provided with a window opening, laterally spaced upri ht members secured to said panel, channel runways for a window carried by said upright members, said panel having an inwardly extending flange at the upper edge of aid window opening, said flange terminating at the outer side walls of said runways and having an upstanding flange at its inner edge, a channel-shaped cross member terminally secured to said upright memhere at the upper ends thereof, said cross member lying on one side and opening inwardly from said panel, the inner free edges of said cross member terminating short of said upstanding flange, and a removable channelehaped header secured to said cross member, said header lying on one side and opening toward said outer panel, one wall of said header being secured to the upper wall of the cross member, and another wall of said header having a portion supported upon the inwardly extending flange of said outer panel.

6. A door having an outer panel provided wit-h a window opening, laterally spaced upright members secured to said panel, channel runways carried by said upright members, a window movable in said runways, a cross member terminally secured to said upright members at the upper, ends thereof, said outer panel having an inwardly extending flange at the upper edge of the window opening, said flange terminating short of the outer side walls of said runways to permit insertion and removal of a window panel past said cross bar, said inwardly extending flange having an upstanding flange at its inner edge, a window header secured to said cross member and having a portion held by the upstanding flange aforesaid upon said inwardly extending flange, and a yieldable strip carried by said header for receiving an edge of said window.

7 A door having a pair of upright members provided with longitudinally extending runways, a glass panel movable in said runways, a cross bar terminally secured to said upright members at one side of said runways, and a header comprising a channelshaped member transversely secured to said cross bar above said runways, said channelshaped member lying on one side, the lower side wall of said channel-shaped member having a longitudinally extending bead and a depending flange, and a channel strip held by said bead and flange in position to receive an edge of said glass panel.

8. In a door, a pair of upright members having longitudinally extending runways, a glass panel movable in said runways, a metal panel secured to said upright members, and a header detachably secured to said panel above said runways, a cross bar terminally secured to said upright members and having a longitudinally extending bead and a depending flange, and an inverted channel strip held by said bead and flange in a position to receive an edge of the glass panel.

9. A door having an outer panel provided with a window opening, and laterally spaced upright members secured to said panel formed with channel shaped runways, said outer panel having inwardly extending flanges at the side edges of said window opening secured to the inner face of said upright members, and lateral flanges projecting from the flanges aforesaid extending into said channel-shaped runway and secured to the outer walls thereof.

10. In a door, the combination with spaced inner andouter panels, of an upright member having a relatively small cross sectional area and formed from 'asingle sheet of metal, said upright member having a lateral flange at one edge secured to the outer panel, and having a longitudinally extending runway for a vertically movable glass panel formed at the inner edge and secured to the inner panel.

11. In a door having a window opening therein, a metal pillar formed with a channel shaped portion constituting a runway for a vertically movable glass panel, said pillar having a flange extending outwardly from the opening and having an intermediate portion at the side edge of said opening connecting said flange and channel shaped portion, and a panel formed with a window opening therein having portions secured to said flange, intermediate portion and outer wall of said channel shaped portion.

12. In a door having a window opening therein, a pillar formed with a channelshaped portion constituting a runway for a vertically movable glass panel, the outer wall of said channel-shaped portion having a flange projecting outwardly from the inner edge thereof and terminating in a lateral flange, and a panel formed with a window opening therein having spaced inner and outer lateral flanges secured respectively to the outer wall of said channel-shaped run way and the lateral flange formed on said pillar, said panel further having a portion connecting the inner and outer flanges thereof and secured to the outwardly projecting flange of said pillar.

13. An automobile door having a slidable window arranged therein comprising a amb rail formed by an integral metal stamping, said rail having oppositely presenting channels providing a rabbet, a guide for the window, and a strengthening element for the door.

14. An automobile door having a slidable window arranged therein comprising a jamb rail formed by an integral metal stamping, said rail having oppositely extending flanges along its edges and oppositely presenting channels intermediate its edges.

15. An automobile door having a slidable window arranged therein comprising a amb rail provided with oppositely presenting channels having a common arm, whereby a guide for the window and a strengthening element for the rail are provided.

16. An automobile door having a slidable window arranged therein comprising a amb rail having its edges flanged in opposite diwindow.

rections and oppositely presenting channels intermediate the edges, one of said edges forming the overlap for the door and one of the said channels forming a guide for the 17. A door rail for vehicle doors having a sliding window comprising a unitary sheet metal stamping extending the length of the door and formed with a window guiding channel. 7

18. An automobile door having a slidable window arranged therein comprising a door rail at the side of the window opening, of web cross section having a transversely extending jalnh face portion and an outer door overlap portion the transverse portion being formed with a hollow rib, the inner wall ofwhich forms the side of the glass run.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM MARSHALL. 

